Carpet-sweeping machine



(No Model.)

0. L. TRAVIS.

CARPET SWEEPING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 2, 1886 W1 TNESSES IJNiTnn STATES PATENT Grains.

CHARLES L. TRAVIS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CARPET-SWEEPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,288, dated March 2,1886.

- Application filed February 28, 1885. Serial No. 157,355. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. TRAVIS, of Minneapolis, in the county ofHennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements inCarpet-Sweeping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that class of sweepers in which a bodycarried on wheels contains a rotary brush and its receiving-pan adjacentthereto.

The invention consists in various improvements hereinafter detailed andclaimed, and having reference to the manner of supporting and drivingthe brush and adjusting the wheels.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the centerof my machine. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line as as,one of the dust-pans being shown in an open position. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the machine with one of the main wheels removed in order toexpose other parts to view. Fig. 4 is an inside face view of the plateD, showing the manner in which the equalizing bar or lever is mountedtherein so that it may rise and fall at its ends.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the body of themachine,consisting of a substantially rectangular box open on the lowerside only.

B 13 represent the four carrying wheels, mounted two at each end of themachine, outside of the body, each wheel being carried on a journal, a,affixed rigidly to the distal end of an arm, 0, the lower end of whichis united by a pivot-screw, b, to the end of the body, so that theweight of the latter tends through the arm to draw the wheel inwardtoward the middle of the body against the driving-pulley d of the brushE, as in various machines heretofore patented to me.

In practice it is found that as the machine is moved to and fro over thecarpet by means of the handle there is a tendency of the main wheels tomove away alternately from the brush-pulley d. To avoid this difficulty,by causing each wheel to resist the backward movement of its companion,I adopt the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The two wheel-carrying arms at each end of the machine are connected byan equalizing bar or lever, e, which rocks or tips about a fulcrum atits middle, and the ends of which are seated in notches in the arms.This bar, which may be rigid, but which is preferably composed ofelastic metal, serves to insure an equal action of the two wheelsagainst opposite sides of the brush-pulley, the tendency of either wheelto rise out of its position being resisted by the companion wheel actingthrough the equalizing-bar.

The several parts are held in their proper operative positions to securethe above-described action of the equalizing-bar, owing to the fact thatthe wheels rest upon the floor, and that the body carrying thebrush-roll is in turn carried by the wheels and held down by gravity andto some extent by the pressure of the operating-handle. It avoidsentirely that tendency of the wheel which is for the time being in rearof the pulley to be forced away from the same as the machine is carriedover the floor.

In the present instance I have represented the equalizing-bar as rockingin aseat or bearing in one of the brush-supporting plates D, ashereinafter more fully explained; but it may be mounted on a centralpivot,if preferred.

In order to control the outward or backward movement of the main wheels,I provide the body with stops which consist, preferably, of leather,rubber, or equivalent soft washers attached by a central screw or nail.

Referring now to the brush IE, it will be seen to consist of acylindrical wooden body armed with bristles and fashioned into journalswith the driving-pulleys d at the ex tremity.

The pulleys and their journals are constructed of wood,and form anintegral portion of the body. This construction is advantageous, becauseof its extreme simplicity and cheapness, because a disconnection of thepulleys is impossible, and because the grain of the wood is presented inan advantageous position for frictional engagement with thedriving-wheels, the surfaces of which latter are covered with rubber orother soft material,as usual.

Instead of supporting the brush in the usual manner within the body, Imake the same of such length that its pulleys will be projected beyondthe two ends of the body, which are provided, as shown in Fig. 1, withholes h, of

sufficient size to admit of the pulleys being inserted through the samefrom the inside.

In order to support the ends of the brush,I make use of bracket-platesD, applied to opposite ends of the body,and supporting pivotscrews f,which are inserted loosely through them into the ends of the brush. Asshown in the drawings,each of these bracket-plates is adapted to spanthe opening in the end of the body and pass outward around thebrush-pulley. The two ends of the plate are slotted vertically andsecured to the body by screws '5, thisconstruction permitting the brushto be adjusted vertically. I

The pivotscrews f, being inserted from the outside, may be tightened insuch manner as I to compensate for wear and preventthe slightest endplay or shake of the brush. Ihis adjustment is peculiarly advantageouswhen, as-

shown in the drawings, the necks or bearing portions of the screws aremade of conical form, since it enables the brush to be operated at alltimes in a noiseless manner.

G G represent the two dust-receiving pans, located in the base of thebody on opposite sides of the brush, and extending from end to endthereof. Each pan is pivoted at its two ends, as shown at j, in orderthat it may be reversed in the manner represented on the right hand inFig. 2, to ell'ect the discharge of its contents.

For the purpose of holding the pans in the closed and in the openpositions, I connect them at one or at both ends by means of a curvedwire spring, is, the ends of which are attached to the upper edges ofthe pan. The

single spring thus applied serves to control both pans.

with openings at its ends, in combination with the brush havingits endsextending through said openings, with pulleys at the outside, the platesor brackets applied externally to the body, as described, and thejournals sustaining the ends of the brush in the plates and securing thebrush against vertical motion.

2. In combination with the intermediate brush actuating pulley, the twotractionwheels, their movable supporting-arms, and the movableequalizing bar or lever sustained at its middle and connecting saidarms, as described.

3. In combination with the body,the rotary brush, two wheels at one endof the body on opposite sides of the brush, the pivoted wheelcarryingarms, and the elastic equalizing-bar e, sustained by and movable upon acentral support.

4.. In a carpet-sweeper, the end plate, D, adapted, as described, tosustain the journal of the brush, and also provided with a seat orgroove to receive the equalizing-bar.

In testimony whereof Ihereunto set my hand, this 31st day of December,1884, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

CHARLES L. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

A. H. MUNN, F. HOOKER.

